Apron tension device



Filed Dec. 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l SSI Oct. 17,1933. o. W JOHNSON 1,930,811

APRON TENS ION DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTHO'EYSW Patented Oct. 17, 1933 YUNITED STATES 1,930,811 APnoN TENSION DEvioE Oscar W. Johnson, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati', Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 31, 1930 Serial No. 505,816

12 Claims.

My invention relates to means for moving a Work carrying apron into and out of cooperative relation with one end of a chest of an ironing machine of the roll and chest type and is particularly adapted for use on an ironing machine equipped with an apron tension device as disclosed in the patent to R. R. Samuels No. 1,860,623, granted May 31, 1932.

One object of my invention is to provide a means for wrapping a work carrying apron around the rounded rear end of a chest of an ironing machine to assist in the ironing operation by directing the work from under the ironing rolls between the chest and apron without danger of the work becoming folded.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means, in combination with an apron tension device as or similar to the one shown in the aforesaid patent, wherein an apron may engage the rounded rear end of the ironing machine chest by a relatively small movement of the apron tension device.

Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of an ironing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side View of the aprons shifting and tensioning device showing the apron held tightly against the chest; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the apron moved away from the chest.

Referring to the drawings, 1 have shown an ironing machine as disclosed in the aforesaid patent and consisting of padded rolls 1 mounted above cooperating chests 2 in such manner as to contact with the upper concave surfaces of the chests, the rolls and chests being supported on a suitable frame 3. The padded rolls 1 are rotatably mounted in side frames 4 that are vertically adjustable and the frames are guided in suitable ways. To move the frames 4, links 5 are connected to the opposing ends of the frames, the links having their lower ends connected to eccentrics 6 mounted on shafts 7 that are rotatable in unison by means of a worm shaft 8 that may, in

turn, be rotated either manually, as by the hand wheel 9, or by power means. With this construction, rotation of the shafts 7 will cause raising or lowering of the frames 4 and raising or lowering of the rolls 1 out of and into contact with the chests 2.

A means is provided for adjusting the tension of endless aprons 10 and 11 that provide a means for delivering the work -ironed from the machine and assisting the ironing operation and pass beneath the chests 2 for a greater portion of their length. This `means consists of a frame or idler bracket l2 mounted at each side of the machine at the delivery end thereof supporting idler brackets over which the aprons pass and being pivoted as at 13 to the main frame 3'. The frames 65 or idler brackets 12 remote from the pivots 13 are provided with similar pairs of parallel shafts that radiate Vsubstantially from the pivotal points of the frames or brackets. Such pairs of shafts and associated parts are duplicates and hence 70 only one such set will be described.-

One of each pair of shafts, designated by the numeral 14 is plain or smooth and rigidly mounted at each end thereof in the frame or bracket 12 while the shaft 15 forming the other shaft of 75 one pair is threaded and rotatably mounted at each end thereof in the frame or bracket 12 and provided with a means consisting of a crank 16 whereby the shaft may be rotated. Two blocks are mounted totravel on each pair of shafts 14 80 and 15, one block 17 being free to slide on both shafts and the other block 18 being free to slide on the shafts 14 but having threaded openings therein through which the shafts 15 fit, the shafts 15 being provided with threads 19 for cooperating 85 with threads in the threaded openings of the block to move the blocks one way or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the shaftsll The blocks 17 are spaced a short distance fromthe blocks 18 and coiled expanding springs 20 are interposed between the two blocks on each set of shafts, one spring encircling each of the shafts 14 and l5.

As shown in the drawings, two of the blocks 17 arranged on opposite sides of the machine support a shaft roller 21 and the other set of blocks 17 supporting a shaft roller 22, the roller`21 being an idler over which the delivery apron 11 travels and the roller 22 being an idler over which the delivery apron l0 travels.

Referring to Fig. 1, the endless apron 10 passes from the roller 22 forwardly on an incline about a roller 23, thence downwardly about the rounded edge of the rear chest 2, thence forwardly against the lower sides of all four chests 2, thence about a live roller 24, thence rearwardly under idler rollers 25 and 26, and thence on an incline upwardly to and about the idler roller 22. The endless apron l1 passes on a decline forwardly under an idler roller 27, thence forwardly and under idler I A small pinion 34 rollers 23 and 29, thence upwardly and about a live roller 30, thence downwardly on the apron 10 and about the live roller 24, thence rearwardly with the apron 10 below the idler rollers 25 and 26,and thence on an incline upwardly to and about the idler roller 21. Thus, goods delivered from between the rolls and chests. will be carried downwardly about the rounded edge of the rearwardmost chest 2 which will assist in the ironing operation, between the chests and the apron 10 toward the feed end of the machine, nally being carried between the aprons l and l1 back towards delivery end cf the machine and there y delivered to containers or other suitable means.

In 1 and the ironing machine is shown in an operating position with tension placed on the aprons and 11 by the brackets 12 being moved upwardly about their pivots 13 and the apron 10 press-d tightly about the rounded rear edge of the rearwardmost chest 2, while in Fig. 3 the machine is shown in inoperative position with the tension on the aprons 10 and llrelieved and the apron 10 moved to be entirely free from the chests In accordance with my invention, to have the apron 10 moved entirely out of contact with the chests and without necessitating but small amount of movementv of the idler brackets 12,` the shaft of the roller 23 is mounted vat the iree end of two crank arms 3l rigidly secured to two stub shafts 32 that are in axial alignment being mounted to rock in suitable bearings 33 provided on opposite sides of the machine and integral with the` machine frame 3. is keyed on each shaft 32 and each pinion moves with a sliding rack bar 35 travelling in a guide 36 whose lower end is pivotally connected as at A36 to the adjacent frames 12 in `such manner that when the frames are raised :andlowered by the action of cams 37 on the shafts 7 and acting against a roller 38on the frame, the rack bars 35 are raised and lowered which will rotate the pinions 34 to raise 'and lowerthe outer ends `of the arms 31 and thereby raise and lower the shaft of the roller 23 to a position in advance of the brackets`12. With this construction, `the roller 23 will carry the apron 10 up about the rounded rear edge of the rear chest 2 upon relatively small movement of 56 the brackets 12 and will drop the apron clear of all of the chests when the brackets 12 are permitted to move the relatively small distance into their down position.

ns to the means for raising and lowering the brackets 12V andv thereby placing the aprons 10 and 11 under tension or relieving them of tension,

it will be noted that the ,high points of the cams 3'1 which, when in contact with the rollers 38, cause the brackets l2 to be in their uppermost 6 position are directly opposite to the high points of the eccentrics 6 which, when in their uppermost. position, cause the rolls l to be` raised away from the chests 2. '.ln other words, the high points of thecams and eccentricsv are directly opposite each other relative to the shafts 7. Thus, 'when the rolls 1 are inengagement with the chests 2 as shown in Figs. l and 2, the br ckets l2 will be in their raised position to place the aprons 10 and 11 under tension and, in a like manner, when the eccentrics 6 are in such position as to raise the rolls `1 from the chests 2, the rollers 38 are in 'Contact with the lower points of the cams 37 as shown in Fig. 3 whereby the tensionv on the aprons 10 and l1 will be ref lieved due to the frames 12 being lowered.

chine is first set for operation, the brackets 12 are moved to their uppermost position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by rotating the shafts 'l to bring the rolls 1 into engagement with the chests 2 at which time the screw shafts are turned to secure the proper tension on the aprons by raising the blocks 13 and consequently the blocks i7 through the action of the springs, the blocks 17 carrying the idler rollers 21 and 22 over which the aprons l() and ll pass. After such desired tension is obtained, the machine is operated through a period of time which be a days run and then the tension on the aprons is relieved in the manner hereinbefore described simultaneously with movement of the rolls out of engagement with the chests.

vAs before stated, when the tension is again placed' on the aprons prior to operation of the machine, the aprons are considerably shorter because of shrinkage thereo;F in drying butl the shortened condition of the aprons is compensated for 'oy further compression of the springs 20, the springs having-.been somewhat compressed in adjusting the blocks to obtain the proper 'first tension on the aprons. 1t follows thatas the machine continues in operation, thevaprons become heated and moist which causes them to stretch as hereinbefore described and such` stretching of the aprons in no way interrupts the operation of the machine due to the fact that the springs 2O will again ez-:ert the proper tension on the aprons by moving the blocks 17 andthe idler rollers carried thereby upwardly to take up any stretch of the aprons. 1t will be understood that the springs are of sufficient length and strength to at all times compensate for the greatest amount. of shrinkage or stretch that will take place in the aprons, and that the length of springs and the shafts on which theyv are mounted may be variedto compensate for any substantial change in length of aprons used;`

Referring to the drawings and the preceding description, it will be seen that I have provided a vdevice embodying numerous novel and advantageous features. The most important further feature resides-in the fact that mechanism is provided for' raising the upper endless apron in ad- Vance of the apron tensioning brackets and into contact with the rounded rear end of the rearwardmost chest with a relatively small upward movement of the frames or idler brackets that form a part of the tensioning device. 1t follows, that tension may be relieved on the aprons and the upper apron moved entirely away irom the ironinfr chest by a relatively small downward movement oi the frames or idler brackets.

It will be readily apparent that the above combination of features hereinshown is highly advantageous and 'desirable and will eliminate in a large measure, if not entirely, the necessity of manual adjustment after the ironing opera" tion has started by the manipulation oi various adjustment screws manually as well as the wear and injury to endless aprons due to beginning an ironing operation while the aprons are in a shrunkened condition and too tight on the rollers about which they travel. With the above construction, the frames or idler brackets that form a tensioning device need only be moved a shortl distance to obtain the desired tension on the aprons or to properly relieve the aprons of tension.

What I claim is: 1..In an ironing machine, an ironing chest,

an ironing roll for cooperation therewith, aprons for delivering Work from said ironingmachine, and apron guiding rolls,meansfor moving said ironing roll into and out of ironing relation with said chest, means for varying the" tension on said aprons in synchronism with suchv movement of the ironing roll, means for moving one of said aprons into contact with one of the ends of said ironing chest, and means for automatically compensating for variance lin length of said aprons due to shrinkage or stretch.

2. lIn an ironing machine, an ironing chest, an ironing roll for cooperation therewith, aprons for delivering work from said ironing machine, and apron guiding rolls, means for moving said ironing roll into and out of ironing relation with said chest, means for varying the tension on said aprons in synchronism with such movement of the ironing roll, a pivoted swingable arm adjacent one end of said chest and having a roller thereon engaging one of said aprons, means for.

swinging said arm about its pivot to move said one apron into contact with one end of said chest and means for automatically compensating for variance in length of said aprons due to shrinkage or stretch.

3. In an ironing machine, an ironing chest, an ironing roll for cooperation therewith, aprons for delivering work from said ironing machine, and apron guiding rolls, means for moving said ironing roll into and out of ironing relation with said chest, means for varying the tension on said aprons in synchronism with such movement of the ironing roll, a pivoted swingable arm adjacent one end of said chest having a roller thereon engaging one of said aprons and a rack and pinion mechanism operable by said apron tension varying means for swinging said arm about its pivot for moving said one apron into Contact with one end of said chest, and means for automatically compensating for variance in length of said aprons due to shrinkage or stretch.

4. In an ironing machine, an ironing chest, an ironing roll for cooperation therewith, aprons for delivering work from said ironing machine, and

apron guiding rolls, means for moving said ironing roll into and out of ironing relation with said nest,means for varying the tension on said aprons in synchronism with such movement of the ironing roll a pivoted swingable arm having a roller thereon engaging one of said aprons for moving one apron into contact with one end of said chest, and means for automatically compensating for variance in length of said aprons due to shrinkage or stretch, said last named means comprising resilient means adapted to maintain said guiding rolls in a position to maintain a given tension on said aprons.

5. In an ironing machine, an ironing chest, an ironing roll for cooperation therewith, aprons for delivering work from said ironing machine, and

apron guiding rolls, means for moving said ironing roll into and out of ironing relation with said chest, means for varying the tension on said aprons in synchronism with such movement of the ironing roll, a pivoted swingable arm having a roller thereon engaging one of said aprons and a rack and pinion mechanism for operating said arm for moving said one apron into contact with one end of said chest, and means forr automatilcally compensating for varia-nce in length of said aprons due to shrinkage or stretch, said last named means comprising resilient means adapted to maintain said guiding rolls in a position to maintain a given tension on said aprons.

6. In an ironing machine, an ironing chest, an

delivering work from said ironingmachine, and apron guiding rolls, means for moving said ironing roll into and out` of ironing relation with said chest, means for varying .the tension on said.

due to shrinkage or stretch, said last named means comprising resilient means adapted to maintain said guiding rolls in a position to maintain a given tension on said aprons, and means for varying the force exerted by said resilient means.

7. In an ironing machine, an ironing chest, an ironing roll for cooperation therewith, aprons for delivering work from said ironing machine, and apron guiding rolls, means for moving said ironing roll into and out of ironing relation with said chest, means for varying the tension on said aprons in synchronism with such movement of the ironing roll, a pivoted swingable arm having a roller thereon engaging one of said aprons and a rack and pinion mechanism for operating said arm for moving said one apron into Contact with one end of said chest, and means for automatically compensating for variance in length of said aprons due to shrinkage or stretch, said last named means comprising resilient means adapted to maintain said guiding rolls in a position to maintain a given tension on said aprons, and means for varying the force exerted by said resilient means.

8. An ironing machine comprising, aframe, a plurality of ironing chests and a plurality of rolls above said chests and cooperating therewith, the last chest having a rounded delivery end portion around which end the work passes, a work carrying apron member that passes around the rounded end of said last chest and beneath and in contact with the chests toward the feed end of the machine when said apron is in operative position, apron tensioning means including a pivoted swingable bracket having a roller thereon about which said apron travels, means including a pivoted swingable arm mounted on said frame and carrying a roller about which said apron passes for wrapping said apron about the rounded rear end of said last chest, and means for moving said arm in synchronism with movement with said bracket.

9. An ironing machine, comprising cooperating roll and chest members, a work carrying apron, an apron support and tensioning means including a bracket having a roller thereon about which said apron travels, said bracket being movable to bring said apron into and out of operative work carrying position, and apron engaging means movable in advance of said bracket for positioning the apron in work carrying position relative to one end of the chest member.

10. An ironing machine, comprising cooperating roll and chest members, a work carrying apron, an apron support and tensioning means ironing roll for cooperationtherewith, apronsforv including a bracket having a roller thereon about apron, an apron support and tensioning means including a bracket having a roller thereon about Whichsaid apron travels, said bracket being movable to bring said apron into and out of operative:

work carrying position,` and apron engaging means including an independent arm carrying a roller and movable in advance `of said bracket for positioning the apron in work carrying position relative to one end of the chestmember.

l2. An ironing machine, comprising cooperating roll and chest members, a work carrying 

